Joseph Henry Murray was born in Wellington on 10 June 1879 (reg. 1879/14903). Son of Patrick and Catherine Murray, of 125, Jackson St., Petone, Wellington, New Zealand.
Joseph Murray was born in 1879, one of ten children of Patrick and Catherine Murray of Petone near Wellington, New Zealand. He attended school in the area and immigrated to Australia in 1903. After working as a miner in Broken Hill, Murray was living in Wauchope on the New South Wales mid-north coast at the outbreak of the First World War, and enlisted in October 1914. After a period of training in Sydney he embarked for Egypt as an establishing member of the 7th Light Horse Regiment. The men of the AIF spent months training at Mena Camp near Cairo before being drawn into the fighting on Gallipoli in April 1915. The men of the light horse remained in Egypt during the landing on Gallipoli, but were soon brought in as dismounted reinforcements. Murray arrived in May 1915 and helped the 1st Division hold part of the line in the area near Lone Pine. After participating in bitter fighting throughout the August Offensive he was evacuated to Cairo with dysentery and general debility. He returned to Gallipoli in November, only to leave soon after as part of the evacuation. Back in Egypt the AIF underwent a major restructure, doubling in size, and with new units being formed from a nucleus of experienced officers and NCOs. Having participated in the defence of Suez Canal against Turkish troops advancing across the Sinai desert, Murray was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps, which was formed in January 1916 in order to deal with the revolt of pro-Turkish Senussi tribesmen in Egypt's Western Desert. British commanders in Egypt appreciated the fighting qualities of the cameleers, so in mid-1916 the Imperial Camel Corps was transferred to the Sinai Desert to participate in operations against the Ottoman Turks. Murray was mustered as a trooper in the 3rd Battalion, an all-Australian formation within a corps made up of Australian, New Zealand, and British elements. He was promoted to corporal in November and participated in the major actions that defined the Desert Mounted Corps's campaign in the Western Desert, fighting at Romani in August and Maghdhaba in December. On 9 January 1917 Murray was involved in the action at Rafa. During the day-long assault on the Turkish garrison at El Magruntein, the Turks defended a series of fortified redoubts and trenches, but were eventually encircled by the Australian Light Horse, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, mounted British Yeomanry, armoured cars, and the cameleers of the Imperial Camel Corps. Rafa was a victory for the Desert Mounted Corps, but it came at a price, with 71 men killed and 415 wounded. Among those killed in action was Joseph Murray. He was 38 years old. Murray was buried near where he fell at El Magruntein, and was later reinterred at El Arish Military Cemetery. After the war, he was moved once more to the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery. Source: Aaron Pegram, Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2278322.
Transcript of Military Service
• Schooling: Catholic School, Wellington, New Zealand
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Civilian Employment: Miner
• Marital status: Single
• Age on enlistment: 40 years and 4 months.
• Next of kin: Sister, Mrs T. Latham, Pretoria Street, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
• Attested into AIF: 12th October 1914, in Rose Hill Camp, New South Wales.
• Rank on enlistment: Private
• Unit on enlistment: 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section, AIF.
• Embarked from: Sydney, New South Wales, aboard TRANSPORT A33 Ayrshire, 20th December 1914
• Final Rank: Acting Sergeant
• Final Unit: 1st Imperial Camel Corps, 3rd Australian Battalion, AIF.
• Other details: Distinguished himself as a volunteer at the risk of his life. He applied to Commanding Officer of 7th Light Horse.
• Fate: Killed in Action, 9th January 1917, El-Arish, Abbassia (Now called Israel).
• Burial: Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
• Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Joseph Murray was born in 1879, one of ten children of Patrick and Catherine Murray of Petone near Wellington, New Zealand. He attended school in the area and immigrated to Australia in 1903. After working as a miner in Broken Hill, Murray was living in Wauchope on the New South Wales mid-north coast at the outbreak of the First World War, and enlisted in October 1914. After a period of training in Sydney he embarked for Egypt as an establishing member of the 7th Light Horse Regiment. The men of the AIF spent months training at Mena Camp near Cairo before being drawn into the fighting on Gallipoli in April 1915. The men of the light horse remained in Egypt during the landing on Gallipoli, but were soon brought in as dismounted reinforcements. Murray arrived in May 1915 and helped the 1st Division hold part of the line in the area near Lone Pine. After participating in bitter fighting throughout the August Offensive he was evacuated to Cairo with dysentery and general debility. He returned to Gallipoli in November, only to leave soon after as part of the evacuation. Back in Egypt the AIF underwent a major restructure, doubling in size, and with new units being formed from a nucleus of experienced officers and NCOs. Having participated in the defence of Suez Canal against Turkish troops advancing across the Sinai desert, Murray was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps, which was formed in January 1916 in order to deal with the revolt of pro-Turkish Senussi tribesmen in Egypt's Western Desert. British commanders in Egypt appreciated the fighting qualities of the cameleers, so in mid-1916 the Imperial Camel Corps was transferred to the Sinai Desert to participate in operations against the Ottoman Turks. Murray was mustered as a trooper in the 3rd Battalion, an all-Australian formation within a corps made up of Australian, New Zealand, and British elements. He was promoted to corporal in November and participated in the major actions that defined the Desert Mounted Corps's campaign in the Western Desert, fighting at Romani in August and Maghdhaba in December. On 9 January 1917 Murray was involved in the action at Rafa. During the day-long assault on the Turkish garrison at El Magruntein, the Turks defended a series of fortified redoubts and trenches, but were eventually encircled by the Australian Light Horse, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, mounted British Yeomanry, armoured cars, and the cameleers of the Imperial Camel Corps. Rafa was a victory for the Desert Mounted Corps, but it came at a price, with 71 men killed and 415 wounded. Among those killed in action was Joseph Murray. He was 38 years old. Murray was buried near where he fell at El Magruntein, and was later reinterred at El Arish Military Cemetery. After the war, he was moved once more to the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery. Source: Aaron Pegram, Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2278322.
Transcript of Military Service
• Schooling: Catholic School, Wellington, New Zealand
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Civilian Employment: Miner
• Marital status: Single
• Age on enlistment: 40 years and 4 months.
• Next of kin: Sister, Mrs T. Latham, Pretoria Street, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
• Attested into AIF: 12th October 1914, in Rose Hill Camp, New South Wales.
• Rank on enlistment: Private
• Unit on enlistment: 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section, AIF.
• Embarked from: Sydney, New South Wales, aboard TRANSPORT A33 Ayrshire, 20th December 1914
• Final Rank: Acting Sergeant
• Final Unit: 1st Imperial Camel Corps, 3rd Australian Battalion, AIF.
• Other details: Distinguished himself as a volunteer at the risk of his life. He applied to Commanding Officer of 7th Light Horse.
• Fate: Killed in Action, 9th January 1917, El-Arish, Abbassia (Now called Israel).
• Burial: Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
• Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Joseph Henry Murray was born in Wellington on 10 June 1879 (reg. 1879/14903). Son of Patrick and Catherine Murray, of 125, Jackson St., Petone, Wellington, New Zealand.
Joseph Murray was born in 1879, one of ten children of Patrick and Catherine Murray of Petone near Wellington, New Zealand. He attended school in the area and immigrated to Australia in 1903. After working as a miner in Broken Hill, Murray was living in Wauchope on the New South Wales mid-north coast at the outbreak of the First World War, and enlisted in October 1914. After a period of training in Sydney he embarked for Egypt as an establishing member of the 7th Light Horse Regiment. The men of the AIF spent months training at Mena Camp near Cairo before being drawn into the fighting on Gallipoli in April 1915. The men of the light horse remained in Egypt during the landing on Gallipoli, but were soon brought in as dismounted reinforcements. Murray arrived in May 1915 and helped the 1st Division hold part of the line in the area near Lone Pine. After participating in bitter fighting throughout the August Offensive he was evacuated to Cairo with dysentery and general debility. He returned to Gallipoli in November, only to leave soon after as part of the evacuation. Back in Egypt the AIF underwent a major restructure, doubling in size, and with new units being formed from a nucleus of experienced officers and NCOs. Having participated in the defence of Suez Canal against Turkish troops advancing across the Sinai desert, Murray was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps, which was formed in January 1916 in order to deal with the revolt of pro-Turkish Senussi tribesmen in Egypt's Western Desert. British commanders in Egypt appreciated the fighting qualities of the cameleers, so in mid-1916 the Imperial Camel Corps was transferred to the Sinai Desert to participate in operations against the Ottoman Turks. Murray was mustered as a trooper in the 3rd Battalion, an all-Australian formation within a corps made up of Australian, New Zealand, and British elements. He was promoted to corporal in November and participated in the major actions that defined the Desert Mounted Corps's campaign in the Western Desert, fighting at Romani in August and Maghdhaba in December. On 9 January 1917 Murray was involved in the action at Rafa. During the day-long assault on the Turkish garrison at El Magruntein, the Turks defended a series of fortified redoubts and trenches, but were eventually encircled by the Australian Light Horse, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, mounted British Yeomanry, armoured cars, and the cameleers of the Imperial Camel Corps. Rafa was a victory for the Desert Mounted Corps, but it came at a price, with 71 men killed and 415 wounded. Among those killed in action was Joseph Murray. He was 38 years old. Murray was buried near where he fell at El Magruntein, and was later reinterred at El Arish Military Cemetery. After the war, he was moved once more to the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery. Source: Aaron Pegram, Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2278322.
Transcript of Military Service
• Schooling: Catholic School, Wellington, New Zealand
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Civilian Employment: Miner
• Marital status: Single
• Age on enlistment: 40 years and 4 months.
• Next of kin: Sister, Mrs T. Latham, Pretoria Street, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
• Attested into AIF: 12th October 1914, in Rose Hill Camp, New South Wales.
• Rank on enlistment: Private
• Unit on enlistment: 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section, AIF.
• Embarked from: Sydney, New South Wales, aboard TRANSPORT A33 Ayrshire, 20th December 1914
• Final Rank: Acting Sergeant
• Final Unit: 1st Imperial Camel Corps, 3rd Australian Battalion, AIF.
• Other details: Distinguished himself as a volunteer at the risk of his life. He applied to Commanding Officer of 7th Light Horse.
• Fate: Killed in Action, 9th January 1917, El-Arish, Abbassia (Now called Israel).
• Burial: Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
• Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Joseph Murray was born in 1879, one of ten children of Patrick and Catherine Murray of Petone near Wellington, New Zealand. He attended school in the area and immigrated to Australia in 1903. After working as a miner in Broken Hill, Murray was living in Wauchope on the New South Wales mid-north coast at the outbreak of the First World War, and enlisted in October 1914. After a period of training in Sydney he embarked for Egypt as an establishing member of the 7th Light Horse Regiment. The men of the AIF spent months training at Mena Camp near Cairo before being drawn into the fighting on Gallipoli in April 1915. The men of the light horse remained in Egypt during the landing on Gallipoli, but were soon brought in as dismounted reinforcements. Murray arrived in May 1915 and helped the 1st Division hold part of the line in the area near Lone Pine. After participating in bitter fighting throughout the August Offensive he was evacuated to Cairo with dysentery and general debility. He returned to Gallipoli in November, only to leave soon after as part of the evacuation. Back in Egypt the AIF underwent a major restructure, doubling in size, and with new units being formed from a nucleus of experienced officers and NCOs. Having participated in the defence of Suez Canal against Turkish troops advancing across the Sinai desert, Murray was transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps, which was formed in January 1916 in order to deal with the revolt of pro-Turkish Senussi tribesmen in Egypt's Western Desert. British commanders in Egypt appreciated the fighting qualities of the cameleers, so in mid-1916 the Imperial Camel Corps was transferred to the Sinai Desert to participate in operations against the Ottoman Turks. Murray was mustered as a trooper in the 3rd Battalion, an all-Australian formation within a corps made up of Australian, New Zealand, and British elements. He was promoted to corporal in November and participated in the major actions that defined the Desert Mounted Corps's campaign in the Western Desert, fighting at Romani in August and Maghdhaba in December. On 9 January 1917 Murray was involved in the action at Rafa. During the day-long assault on the Turkish garrison at El Magruntein, the Turks defended a series of fortified redoubts and trenches, but were eventually encircled by the Australian Light Horse, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, mounted British Yeomanry, armoured cars, and the cameleers of the Imperial Camel Corps. Rafa was a victory for the Desert Mounted Corps, but it came at a price, with 71 men killed and 415 wounded. Among those killed in action was Joseph Murray. He was 38 years old. Murray was buried near where he fell at El Magruntein, and was later reinterred at El Arish Military Cemetery. After the war, he was moved once more to the Kantara War Memorial Cemetery. Source: Aaron Pegram, Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2278322.
Transcript of Military Service
• Schooling: Catholic School, Wellington, New Zealand
• Religion: Roman Catholic
• Civilian Employment: Miner
• Marital status: Single
• Age on enlistment: 40 years and 4 months.
• Next of kin: Sister, Mrs T. Latham, Pretoria Street, Lower Hutt, New Zealand
• Attested into AIF: 12th October 1914, in Rose Hill Camp, New South Wales.
• Rank on enlistment: Private
• Unit on enlistment: 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Machine Gun Section, AIF.
• Embarked from: Sydney, New South Wales, aboard TRANSPORT A33 Ayrshire, 20th December 1914
• Final Rank: Acting Sergeant
• Final Unit: 1st Imperial Camel Corps, 3rd Australian Battalion, AIF.
• Other details: Distinguished himself as a volunteer at the risk of his life. He applied to Commanding Officer of 7th Light Horse.
• Fate: Killed in Action, 9th January 1917, El-Arish, Abbassia (Now called Israel).
• Burial: Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt
• Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Gravesite Details
Service No. WWI 77 | Imperial Camel Corps (Australian), 3 Battalion.
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